Hello from South Capitol Street, where both the Nationals and Stephen Strasburg return tonight. The Marlins are in town, and this will mark the first time Strasburg has faced an opponent for the second time. (He, of course, was supposed to face the Braves in a rematch two weeks ago before he was scratched with shoulder tightness.)

The Nats also will be honoring former Expos great Andre Dawson before tonight's game. Dawson, who now works in the Marlins' front office, also will see his name unveiled as part of a brand-new "Ring of Honor" that has been erected on the facade of the club level behind home plate. Eighteen people who are in the baseball Hall of Fame and have ties either to the Nationals, Senators, Expos or Homestead Grays will be honored in the ring: Dawson, James "Cool Papa" Bell, Ray Brown, Gary Carter, Joe Cronin, Rick Ferrell, Josh Gibson, Goose Goslin, Clark Griffith, Bucky Harris, Walter Johnson, Harmon Killebrew, Buck Leonard, Heinie Manush, Cumberland Posey, Sam Rice, Jud Wilson and Early Wynn.

Continuing with the Expos theme, several Nats players and coaches are wearing tri-colored Expos hats during batting practice today. They won't, however, be wearing them during the game.

This celebration of Expos is fine, I suppose. Has the team ever done much with the Senator heritage? There was speculation about using Frank Howard, which would be a fine idea, but it would have cost a few dollars. As a Marlin employee, Andre Dawson is in town on their dime.It's true that most young fans don't know Frank Howard (or other Senator veterans) but the sport has always generated nostalgic enthusiasm in a lot of fans and the Nats might find it so here. The Dodgers to mention one team has an organization of retired Dodgers who are enlisted for fan events.

I'm not exactly sure why, but I think I'd prefer to see Desmond and Bernadina flipped. Maybe it's just so that there'd be a right, left, right, left, right through the top of the order. Now, I know that putting Desi in front of Bernadina could limit #2's speed, but… I don't know. Am I crazy? It's just something I think could work.

Why isn't Frank Robinson, a legend who is "in the baseball Hall of Fame and [has] ties either to the NATIONALS, Senators, EXPOS or Homestead Grays", not to mention the O's, included? Is Nats management still mad at him for merely keeping the franchise afloat those 6 years??

sjm105 said…Mark: Put on your GM hat for a second and give me reasons for pitching SS tonight.1) He's healthy.2) He needs to build up his innings count before the season ends so he doesn't face the same 160-inning limit again next year.3) He sells tickets (not saying that's a legit reason to bring him back, but you'd be naive not to admit it's a factor).

… I know it might stick in the craw of some, maybe many, of today's Nationals fans. But as one of those fans, who came over with the EXPOS! from Montreal, I simply want to say 'thank you' to the Washington Nationals Baseball Team, its owners and its front office for this gesture of keeping the Expos alive for those of us who refuse to let them die. Mark, if you have the ear of anyone with the FO, please express my thanks to them.Go Stevie Wonder! Go Nats!!

@ManassasI knew as soon as that tip went through Pudge's glove that the homer was coming. This team seems to be snake bit as every mistake seems to be taken advantage of by the opponents. They cannot make any mistakes it seems.

As with any game I "watch" via Gameday, I can't see the locations Pudge is calling for on each pitch. So I have to ask, did he call for a fastball up and in on Uggla? Or was that one that got away from S.S? Seems like Uggla's coldzones are low and away….

I have a new nickname for Little Stephen, "Lump of Coal", you wake up thinking you have been good all year but when you look under the Strasmas tree you get bubkus….Bah Humbug! I cannot wait to see what holiday we get next Maya-mas or JZimm-mas, whichever comes it will be much more exciting to the rotten eggs Little Stephen has laid in his diaper after his debut!!!

Willingham misplayed at least three balls tonight. On the homer in the first, he froze, and then went back, and the ball landed a few inches past the wall. No harm as I'm not sure anyone can reach that high — but he didn't play it right.On Uggla's double to the wall in the fourth, Willingham took a step forward, before sprinting back. The ball went over his head and hit the base of the wall.And then the one off of his glove later.I'm not sure the first two were noticeable by those watching TV — but I was at the game sitting in the nosebleed seats just to the right of home plate, so I had a perfect view. On all three he not only didn't get a good jump on the ball, but jumped the wrong way.Did anyone else see that?

I was in the nosebleed seats just outside 1st base and saw the same misplays. There has to be something physically wrong with Hammer, likely eyes, affecting his fielding now (clearly not picking up the ball off the bat) as well as his hitting.

Back from the game. What's the line? Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains. We just plain got beat tonight. A few thoughts:1. I'm right there with DC Wonk and Natsfan2005 on Willingham. We sprung for the fancy seats behind the Marlins' dugout tonight and had a great view of Willingham misplaying what seemed like every ball hit out to left. There were a couple of fair-weather Strasburg-gawkers behind us asking if the guy in left field was any good or if he was a scrub who'd just been called up. I said something in his defense (I'd like to see him extended as well) but after a while I just gave up. He had what must have been his worst fielding night of the year.2. The Dawson ceremony was a really neat idea – I especially loved him throwing out the first pitch to Carter – but the fan reception left something to be desired. A couple Nats "fans" near me were extra-classy in their decision to boo the guy, apparently blaming him for the absence of Frank Howard from the Ring of Honor. I have to say, springing for the pricey seats was pretty disappointing – the "fans" down there were uninterested in the game, rude, and relatively clueless about the team. Looking forward to returning to the 300 level again.3. It looked like Strasburg was really struggling with control throwing from the stretch. It was hard to see balls and strikes from out seats, though. In the third it seemed like his fastball (I assume that's the pitch – 95/96 mph on the scoreboard) was not being called for a strike very much. Sunday will be revealing as to what's going on with his arm. I would hardly call the guya failure though. Everyone gets beat up in this game from time to time, and he certainly had some strong innings as well. Uggla and Ramirez were hot tonight though…4. Why do you hate me Willie Harris?

Ernie, check out the seats behind first base. We have a few fair weather gawkers but lots of knowledgeable people and generous rooters. And we have a lovely usher, too, who is great with hooking up kids to the players in and just after BP. The walks SS issued were not what anyone wanted, Hits, too, But people were patient, in a way they haven't been patient when the Bad Stammen shows up, or that awful day that Marquis blew up. If I had PTS from that, I bet he still does too. Anyway. I like that our fans are there to support the team, even in an 8-2 loss. SS will be better Sunday, and Olson will pitch well tomorrow. Anyway, come on and sit with us in 131, down at the front. You'll like it there.

As far as the misplays on the balls by Willingham….1) The HR ball would not have been caught by Willingham even if he broke correctly on it, while it landed just over the fence the trajectory would have required quite a leap..maybe JMax could get if but not Willingham.2) The ball hit the bullpen door, no one even the vistors play that deep in our LF, I do not even think that Nyjer's speed would have gotten that one.3) The one he got twisted up on…yep that hurt.But I think the bottom line is as has been said before the lights shine right into the eyes of the leftfielder, this does not happen at any other park in the majors…BAD DESIGN…thank you Lerner family!